No Imported Onions until Local Supply Finishes

Jose Abelardo Mai

Minister Mai says that they have formed a task force to tackle the growing issue of contraband.  He also says there will be no importation of onion until the local farmers sell all their produce.

Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security & Enterprise

“When I walked the market on Monday, I met the Orellanas and the vendors there and we had a meeting at ten o’clock with customs; BAHA; Agriculture and we came up with a task force to see how best we can manage the importation of contraband goods from La Union; Botes; we understand that it is even coming from Neuland; Little Belize by sea and Guatemala. We know who are doing it and so it is just a matter of time before they get caught; and that is why we try to control the number of people bringing in vegetables.  So, again, we have a task force and they are coming up with some recommendations right now to see how best we can control a hundred and thirty pounds. But that hundred and thirty pounds is not a problem that will be wiped out in ten days or seven days. I think by Friday there won’t be any more onions from those; maybe a hundred sacks here and there. But we will not open the borders for importation of onions until we are a hundred and fifty percent sure that there is no farmer left with product this season; we will not do that.”